Various organizations wield power to make a significant difference in people’s lives, especially those struggling to support themselves. By working to address the root causes of poverty and inequality, these institutions can help create a more just and equitable society for all people.
The Investors Academy is an organization that provides a wide range of resources and support to underserved individuals and families in the Metro Atlanta area. This includes homeless veterans, people struggling with food insecurity and unemployment, individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions, and ex-offenders returning to the community.
One of the key ways that the Investors Academy supports these individuals is through its Outreach Programs offering a range of services such as housing support, wrap-around services, a full-service food pantry, a computer lab, a Job Readiness Program, job placement, and basic needs assistance. Additionally, the Investors Academy provides Financial Coaching and Life Skills Training to help people under its care become self-sufficient.
“My services are solving problems because we are not only providing job readiness skills to allow those in need to enter the workforce and be prepared to thrive, but we also offer a clothing closet to help them be “Dressed for Success” and then have interviews,” Founder Montra McKenzie said. “We even take it a step further, with our food pantry at our resource center, to help alleviate any food insecurities that our trainees may be facing while trying to rise above their hardships. We are committed to helping the less fortunate in the community rise,” she added.
Since its inception, the Investors Academy has made a significant impact on the lives of many people in the community. In fact, they have served over 3,000 families, provided housing to 500 homeless veterans, trained and coached more than 300 individuals, and helped over 300 people find jobs. However, the demand for their services continues to grow, and they often face challenges in meeting this demand due to limited funding and resources.
One of the standout programs offered by the Investors Academy is the Youth Outreach Program, which provides at-risk youth aged 15-24 with employment opportunities, workplace skills training, financial management and saving guidance, career counseling, and connections to education and job opportunities through an apprenticeship project. The Youth Outreach Program aims to help these young people become self-sufficient and achieve their career goals.
Another one of the Investors Academy’s initiatives is the Youth Apprenticeship Job Training Program, specifically designed to serve at-risk youth living below the poverty line in Metro Atlanta. This program focuses on helping young people experiencing homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse recovery, mental health challenges, difficulty in traditional classroom settings, or lack of access to resources for personal and career development. The Apprenticeship Job Training Program provides hands-on job training in the warehousing industry, where participants can learn valuable skills such as warehouse safety, pallet jack training, and OSHA 10/30 training.
Since the start of the pandemic, the Investors Academy has trained and employed more than 30 at-risk youth in the inner city and has also provided supportive housing for veterans facing homelessness. In addition to its Youth Outreach Program, the Investors Academy offers summer and after-school/weekend programs for at-risk youth through its job readiness program.
The Investors Academy has continuously boosted its efforts to assist underserved individuals and families in the Metro Atlanta area by helping them achieve self-sufficiency and build better lives for themselves and their families through its various programs and services. Under the leadership of Montra McKenzie, the organization hopes to sustain its operations with the help of stable, proper and adequate funding from generous philanthropic individuals and organizations, setting its pace to change more lives.
“Even though I am not perfect, I am always genuine and own up to my mistakes and shortcomings, and strive each day to be the very best version of myself. This is my power because no one can be Montra. I am very passionate about serving and helping others, and my passion shows in everything I do. My intentions are always pure,” the founder left off.
